Wagon-brake.



[Im-696170. v 4Patented Mar. 25, |902.,

C. H.. 'GUNPL 4menu BRAKE.

(Apphcation hd Dec. 20, 1901 (No Meijel.)

UNTTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES H. GUNN, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

WAG OkN-BRAK E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,170, dated March25, 1902. Application led December 20, 1901. ASerial No. 86,703. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES-H. GUNN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State ofUtah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagon-Brakes;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- actdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wagon-brakes of that type whichwhen applied contact with the ground and lift the Wheels therefrom; andits object is to provide means to prevent the entire brake from becomingaccidentally released by one of the brake-shoes engaging an obstructionin the road.

Another object is to provide a reversible brake-shoe which is adaptedfor use in different seasons ofthe year.

Heretofore brakes of this'character have been constructed with rigidconnections-between the hand-lever and the shoes, so that when either ofthe latter engage a rock or other obstructionin the road both shoeswould be raised andthe braking action entirely released,.whichoccasioned much annoyance, especially-when descending steep hills. Toobviate this, I have connected the swinging shaft of each brake-shoewith a springing device capable of torsional movement and connect anoperating-bar to its center, so that each brake-shoe will in a measureact independently of each other, and thus should one shoe beaccidentally lifted the other will not be affected and will remain incontact with' the ground.

My improved reversible brakeshoe consists of a roller having a series ofteeth or serrations formed on a portion of its face for use in winterWeather when the roads are covered'- with snow and ice, and itisprovided with an improved construction by which it may be held in itsreversed position.

For a further understanding of the merits and advantages of my inventionreference is to be had to the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of the brake applied to the rear axle ofa vehicle, the brake being in operative position. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection through the rear of the runningge'ar of the vehicle with thebrake applied and shown as out of engagement with the ground. Fig. 3 isa perspective View of the brake-shoe detached. Fig. Llis a detail viewof the locking-key. Fig. 5 is a modified form of connecting-rod for thespringing device, which connects the swinging shaft of each brake-shoe.v

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

I prefer to mount my brake upon the rear axle of a vehicle, as shown inFig. l, and to carry this into effect the axle is provided withbearingeyes suitably fastened thereto, in which the several levers andshafts are journaled, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Secured near each end of the aXle and eX- tending forwardly of the sameare bars 3 3, each of which is composed of a flat strip of metal doubledupon itself and provided with eyes at each end, which form bearings. Arocking shaft 4 is journaled in the eyes at the forward ends of the bars3, and to the end of the rocking shaft is secured a vertical lever 1l,which communicates with the hand-lever near the front of the vehicle bya bar 6 or any other suitable means. The eyes 2 at the rear end of thebars 3 form bearings for the swinging shafts 5 5, which are secured atone end to the brake-levers 7 7. The ends ofthe brakelevers are bent atright angles and journaled in the eyes of the clips 2f, and their otherends 'carry reversible brake-shoes 9, which are adapted to contact withthe ground and which will be more fully 'described hereinafter. A seriesof clips 2b may be attached to the axle to support the swinging shafts 55, or any other suitable bearing may be Yemployed. The ends of theswinging shafts are bent at right angles and connected by a springingdevice 10, which consists, in Fig. 1, of a flat metal spring-bar capableof torsional movement.

About the center of the rocking shaft4 the same is bent to form a crankportion 11,which is connected with the springing device 10 by means of aconnecting-rod 12. In Fig. 5 I have shown this springing device ascomposed of two coil-springs, and the connecting-rod 12 is attached tothe ends of each spring, while the ends of the swinging shafts extend aslight distance within the coil-springs. In this way each swinging shaft5 will, in a measure, act independently ofthe other when one isdisplaced from the ground by reason of contact with an obstruction. Thespringing device is, however, of sufficient rigidity to operate bothsimultaneously when it is desired to either apply or release the brake,since the connecting-rod 12 is secured to it at its center, and each endis therefore capable of a springing action without affecting theposition of the connecting-rod 12, the rocking shaft 4, or the otherparts. Either form of springing device may be employed; but I prefer touse that shown in Fig. 1, as it is less expensive.

My improved brake-shoe consists of a cylindrical block provided withteeth or serrations on a portion of its periphery 9 and a recess 9,which is adapted to receive a locking-key 9c. The end of eachbrake-lever 7 is provided with a corresponding recessin alinement withthe recess 9", and when the shoe is secured to the brake-lever by meansof a bolt which passes through both the shoe and the locking-key eachhalf of the locking-key engages the recesses in the shoe andbrakelevers. In Fig. 1 the brake'shoes are shown as having the serratedface in use, which is more particularly adapted for winter weather, whenthe ground is covered with snow and ice; but by releasing the bolt theshoe may be reversed, so that the smooth edge will act as thecontact-face, and the locking-key will prevent the shoe from turning.

The operation of the brake is as follows: lVhen the lever 4 is pulledforward by the driver, the rock-shaft 4, with its crank portion 11,isthrown forwardly and the connecting-rod 12 draws the swinging device 10downwardly, and since each of the ends of the swinging shafts areconnected with the ends of the springing device they will be likewiseswung downwardly and throw the brake-shoes in contact with the earth.Now should either of the shoes strike a rock or other obstruction itwill of coul'se be lifted; but the other shoe will not be affected andwill remain in contact with 6o the ground, as each end of the springingdevice is capable of movement independent of the other end. The reverseoperation will release the brake.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A vehicle-brakeconsisting of brake-shoes adapted for engagement with the ground,brake-levers supporting said shoes, swinging shafts connected to thebrake-levers, a springing device connecting the swingingshafts and meansconnecting with the springing device for operating the brake,substantially as described.

2. A vehicle-brake consisting of brake-shoes adapted for engagement withthe ground, brake-levers pivotally mounted upon the rear axle of thevehicle, rocking shafts connected to the brake-levers, and mounted onthe rear axle of the vehicle, a rock-shaft, a connectin g-rod betweenthe rock-shaf t and the swinging shafts and a springing deviceconnecting the ends of the swinging shafts and secured to theconnecting-rod to allow each swinging shaft to move independently of theother.

3. In a vehicle-brake, the combination with brake-shoes adapted forengagement with the ground, brake-levers pivotally supported on the rearaxle of the vehicle, swinging shafts connected with the brake-levers, ofa springing bar connecting the ends of the swinging shafts and capableof torsional movement'to adapt the brake-levers to act independently ofeach other, a rock-shaft, a rod connecting the rock-shaft with thespringing device and means for operating the rock-shaft, substantiallyas specified.

4. A vehicle-brake consisting of brake-1evers having reversiblebrake-shoes mounted on their ends, swinging shafts connected with thebrake-levers, a springing device connecting the ends of the swingingshafts, a rockshaft, a connect-ion between the rock-shaft and theswinging device and operating means, substantially as specified.

5. In a vehicle-brake the combination with the brake-levers and theiroperating means, of reversible brake-shoes adapted forengagement withthe ground and each having a portion ofits periphery provided with teethand a recess formed in the side thereof, and a locking-key to engagesaid recess to hold the shoe in its reversed position, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES II. GUNN.

lVitnesses:

MARETTA B URNHAM, NELLIE MULHALL.

l'IO

